Stars all set for Iran challenge

National football team Harambee Stars will sample the feeling of an international fixture for the first time in 14 months and 25 days, as they face a highly-ranked Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran this evening.

The game starts at 7 pm.

Harambee Stars head Coach Engin Firat has asked local football fans for patience as he endeavours to knit a formidable team for major competitions in the near future, candidly stating that today’s game against Iran will be for learning purposes, not necessarily going for victory.

This will be the third time Kenya is battling the Asian football giants, with the first two matches also being friendlies. The first meeting between the sides was in April 1997 and Kenya under coach Reinhard Fabisch went down 3-0.

In 2009, Kenya returned to the Iranian capital, this time falling narrowly (1-0) courtesy of a 54th minute penalty for the hosts. The two encouters were staged in Tehran. Today’s will be the third there.

Despite coaching Firat’s sentiments, the boys will be under pressure to give a good account of themselves, probably fighting to amend the previous outings against the six-time world cup participants.

While Kenya was locked out of CAF and FIFA matches including friendlies due to the suspension that lasted for more than a calendar year, Iran has played 13 competitive games in that period, the recent being a friendly game last week against Russia that ended in a 1-1 draw.

There is no major concern in the Harambee Stars camp as far as injuries are concerned. Difaa EL Jadidi forward Masud Juma passed a late fitness test to make the cut to Iran and is expected to start on the bench today.

Goalkeeper Patrick Matasi who is returning to the team after a two-year absence is expected to get the nod in Firat’s starting line-up for the first time.

New boys Daniel Anyembe, Alfred Scriven, Alpha Onyango, Victor Omune and goalkeeper Byrne Omondi are anticipative of Harambee Stars debuts away from home.

Coach Firat has revealed that he watched Iran’s game against Russia and picked some points heading to today’s battle.

“Yes I watched the game and we have all the information, you know I have worked in Iran for five years for the national team and even in the champions league there. I know them very well including the new coach, I even told my boys how they (Iran) play. I was surprised that even in a friendly match Iran was very aggressive and worked very hard. They played with all their star players, so, we will face a really tough opponent, this we know and, in the end, it is what I want. I also face the reality that it will be hard for the boys but we have to push to the maximum for us to learn, this is the only way.

Harambee Stars has managed only three clean sheets in the last 10 outings and that could be of concern to the technical bench.

Iran’s returning coach Amir Ghalenoei will be eager to register his first win since taking over from Portuguese Carlos Queiroz early this month.

Although he is without Brenford’s Saman Ghodos and dependable forward Sardar Azmoun of Bayer Leverkusen, Ghalonoei will be under immense pressure should he fail to get desired results against Harambee Stars.

FC Porto striker who scored a penalty to salvage the team from unprecedented home embarrassment from Russia last week will still be a man to watch out for and Harambee Stars defenders should work tirelessly to keep him away.

Iran’s camp has been hit with speculations that coach Ghalonei had told players with long hairs to trim them, something that has evoked an outcry by a section of fans.